7:	Avenin gene expression during oat seed development: an undergraduate molecular biology laboratory.

Authors:	Johnson, Russell, R.(A)
Affiliations:	(A): Department of Biology, Colby College
Presenter:	Johnson, Russell R., rrjohnso@colby.edu

A six week lab was developed in which small groups of students designed and carried out experiments to test the effects of various environmental factors on the expression of a seed storage protein gene during oat seed development. The overall sequence of the lab was designed to parallel the steps that would be followed in an actual research project. Students began by submitting a research proposal which included the rationale for their proposed research as well as a detailed description of how the work would be conducted. A wide variety of experiments was possible and students tested the effects of such variables as simulated herbivory, nutrient shortages, exposure to various toxins, ultraviolet radiation, and soil pH. After carrying out the appropriate treatments on greenhouse grown oat plants, students isolated total RNA from their samples of developing seeds and used this RNA to carry out RNA blots which were then probed with a (non-radioactive) labeled avenin cDNA. The high abundance of the avenin mRNA allowed for easy detection of the message, even when using a non-radioactive detection system with lower sensitivity than traditional radioactive probes. After obtaining and analyzing the results of their experiments, students wrote up their findings in the format of a scientific paper and gave short oral presentations to the class.